Corporate America Runaway

Things that I have learned over the past few months in Asia!

10. No matter how fit I am, there’s not enough oxygen at 10,000 ft.

9. Roosters don’t only crow at dawn…they go all night - like dualing banjos. While staying at a homestay in Thailand the damn things kept me awake all night…next time I remember to bring earplugs!

8. It is possible to hunt for rat with a gun…you just have to be a good shot.

7. There are special Tourist police in Thailand. They record your where-abouts and what tour companies you are using. Before going trekking we had to check in with them and let them know where we were going and for how long.

6. It is possible to get tired of rice.

5. I’m still not a morning person even if I get 8 hrs of sleep. It’s just not in my genes.

4. You actually get used to having a shower head over your toilet - just remember to remove the TP from the bathroom as the whole bathroom becomes your shower.

3. It’s still possible to snap photos when you can’t feel your fingers…see Mt. Kinabalu post…brrr!

2. Asian desserts leave something to be desired….I miss gooey chocolate cake!!!!

1. American Idol is EVERYWHERE. I was at 10,000 ft. on Mt. Kinabalu and they barely had heat - but American Idol was on the lodge tv…of course I pulled up a chair and watched!

Another month and a half of travel brings more learnings…here are the Top 10 things I learned in October and November from my travels…enjoy!

10. Everyone assumes that an American traveling outside of the US is a democrat. In a store in South Africa - one shop owner I was talking to said “Since you are traveling outside of the US, I can assume you are a liberal and from a blue state.” Wow…are we that easy to figure out??

9. Ostrich is actually quite tastey. You wouldn’t think so…but it was really good in Africa!

8. One day it hit me…finally…Look Right!!!!! This was the day that I figured out that my brain was re-trained to understand that people drive on the opposite side of the road in Africa, New Zealand and Australia! It’s very strange - but the switch in your brain does happen naturally after time. I honestly can’t remember what side we drive on anymore or where the steering wheel is supposed to be positioned in a car in the US!!

7. I can survive on Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches if I have to.

6. The most common (ex) professions of people doing extended world travel (like myself) is Accountant and Software Engineer. I find this rather interesting as I’m kind of both…my degree was accounting and I worked in IT. What is it about these seemingly boring, logical, professions that drive us to do these crazy things. I think it’s our creative side just trying to leap out of our skins.

5. I really should have rented Lord of the Rings BEFORE I went to New Zealand…

4. Every country has it’s weird sayings…New Zealand’s ‘Sweet As’ took the cake (or should I say pie) though.

3. My knowledge of the metric system has been re-awakened. I think it had been dormant since 5th grade! I am now forced to convert and think in Celcius, meters, and kilos. It took a while - but I think I’ve finally got it!!

2. Plastic grocery bags cost money in Africa. Of course I didn’t learn this important fact until weeks after I had been simply taking the plastic sacks and packing them full of my groceries and leaving (without paying for the sack). The amazing thing is that no one ever stopped me!

1. I have learned that I do have a creative side…and I feel it awaking a bit more every day!

10. There is really no need for a fork when you eat a T-bone steak in Kenya...just a big knife and your fingers will do! 9. Don't go out on the streets of Zanzibar from 6:30PM to 8:00 PM ... [Continue reading this entry]